| Author | Message | ||
     Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 425 Registered: 08-2003 |
I heard from someone that since my yellow top and all optimas are dry cell, that makes them hard on the alternator. I guess the alternator is constantly charging the battery? Meaning your alternator can go out sooner from working harder than it should. What do yah think?  Matt p.s.- sorry if it should be in the tech section. I thought I'd put it here so everyone can see it. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 943 Registered: 05-2003 |
Mathew, I've heard similiar comments predicting all sorts of doom and gloom about my yellow tops. I asked my tech and he said everything is fine on my truck, that there is nothing to worry about. I trust him and he has never led me wrong. I didn't want to take his time to ask him why others are concerned about this. I wonder if it has something to do with how everything is hooked up? Jamie | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 704 Registered: 09-2002 |
I believe it's more of a deep cycle issue than a dry cell per se. Your normal starting battery is generally almost fully charged. The alternator likes that. It just needs a top up and it's done. When we start using deep cycle batteries, whether they be dry-cell or conventional, we tend to discharge them more than we would our regular starting battery. Winches, lights, fridges etc all add to this deep discharge. That's what the alternator doesn't like. Resurrecting a deep cycle battery from a deep discharge puts a great strain on the alternator. I have experienced this first hand. Having a fully charged backup battery that can be combined with a deeply discharged battery really helps. I've seen the difference after starting my truck on a low dry-cell - the alternator squeals and the tacho sits limp and lifeless - and then switching in the backup battery. After about 15 mins. all is back to normal and I can switch out the backup and let that return to full charge. Bottom line is be very careful after starting your truck on a discharged deep cycle battery. You will kill the alternator. SC | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1509 Registered: 02-2002 |
But - with that being said - don't worry about it for daily use as your yellow top doesn't discharge much for just driving and winch usage with the truck running. And BTW - they are not dry cell - they just store the acid differently than a standard plate type battery. Personally 4 years now of driving and off-road usage, winching, etc on one yellow top. Still kickin as is the alternator. Bill | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 944 Registered: 05-2003 |
Steve, That's really useful info to know. Thanks for posting it. If one were to keep an eye on the voltage, any idea what the lower safe range might be? Thanks, Jamie | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 705 Registered: 09-2002 |
Yes, in daily use it's rarely an issue. I only notice that effect after a night camping, using the inverter and running the laptop off the 12v outlet. Then starting the truck with 2 out of 3 batteries in a deep state of discharge. While Optimas are not true dry-cell, I believe my Odysseys are. I do plan to upgrade my alternator one of these days. For now, I carry a spare. Jaime, I don't know what a 'safe' voltage would be. The idea of a deep cycle is that it can be almost totally discharged hundreds of times. My inverter shuts of at 10v. I personally don't plan to monitor the voltage. As long as I know I have a way to start the truck and initiate the recharge process, I'm not going to sweat it. The whole point of my setup is to sit back and enjoy the view without worrying about batteries. SC |
